SCENE II

Barthwick. I wish you’d speak about
the nuts they’re uneatable. [He puts one in
his mouth.]

Mrs. Barthwick. It’s not the
season for them. I called on the Holyroods.

[Barthwick fills
his glass with port.]

Jack. Crackers, please, Dad.

[Barthwick passes
the crackers. His demeanour is reflective.]

Mrs. Barthwick. Lady Holyrood has
got very stout. I ’ve noticed it coming
for a long time.

Barthwick. [Gloomily.] Stout? [He takes up
the crackers—­with transparent airiness.]
The Holyroods had some trouble with their servants,
had n’t they?

Jack. Crackers, please, Dad.

Barthwick. [Passing the crackers.] It got into
the papers. The cook, was n’t it?

Mrs. Barthwick. No, the lady’s
maid. I was talking it over with Lady Holyrood.
The girl used to have her young man to see her.

Barthwick. [Uneasily.] I’m not sure they
were wise——­

Mrs. Barthwick. My dear John, what
are you talking about? How could there be any
alternative? Think of the effect on the other
servants!

Barthwick. Of course in principle—­I
wasn’t thinking of that.

Jack. [Maliciously.] Crackers, please, Dad.

[Barthwick is compelled
to pass the crackers.]

Mrs. Barthwick. Lady Holyrood told
me: “I had her up,” she said; “I
said to her, ’You’ll leave my house at
once; I think your conduct disgraceful. I can’t
tell, I don’t know, and I don’t wish to
know, what you were doing. I send you away on
principle; you need not come to me for a character.’
And the girl said: ’If you don’t
give me my notice, my lady, I want a month’s
wages. I’m perfectly respectable.
I’ve done nothing.’"’—­Done
nothing!

Barthwick. H’m!

Mrs. Barthwick. Servants have too
much license. They hang together so terribly
you never can tell what they’re really thinking;
it’s as if they were all in a conspiracy to
keep you in the dark. Even with Marlow, you
feel that he never lets you know what’s really
in his mind. I hate that secretiveness; it destroys
all confidence. I feel sometimes I should like
to shake him.